Father's Icon
Beyond the Supernatural. London. 1882

a novel

Cast of characters

Gertrude Lawrence...............A portrait painter.
Mortimer Smythe...................Poet, who joined The Corps of Sappers. The Master of Making days.
Theodous Gilbert...................The undertaker.
Mephistopheles.....................The wraith. (Satan).
Sir Charles Linton..................Late of the Crimean War. Owner of Wentbourne Manor.
Manufacturer of umbrellas.

Charles, junior......................The younger Linton. Philanderer.
Julian Soames-Bartlett.............An artist of unconventional leanings.
Arabella...............................Wife of Julian.
Alfred Butler-Ellis....................Policeman. Investigator of extraordinary crimes.
Albert Smith..........................Stage Hand. Artemis Theatre.
Hippolyte.............................Retired Actor.
Mr. Higginbottom...................Art Director at The Artemis Theatre. Dipsomaniac.

Various Officers of the Army. Policemen. Itinerants. Harlots.

In dedication: William Blake. (1757-1821).

***

Father's Icon is a very high impact, supernatural thriller and pulls no punches where the sensitivity of readers could be most vulnerable. The statement: 'Do not think because you cannot see me that I am not here,' in the context of the novel's theme, has proven disturbing to some readers...

Father's Icon is set in Victorian London. It eclipses a short time span, about three months of 1882. The focus is on how a particular group of Victorians both regarded and represented the contact with, what contemporary society might refer to as 'supernatural phenomena.' That is, how and why the hitherto unknown and undetectable manifested to these people at this time. The trembling, cold and ghastly fear that ensued. The disembowelling murder. The eventual embracing of a novel perception. The potential challenge to orthodox streams of thought...

Gertrude Lawrence is the main character. Gertrude is a young portrait painter. A woman with inherited freedom and equally, great insecurity...

Gertrude's late father bequeathed her the legacy of his talent, his house and studio. This is not all....There is more...Much more...

A consideration herein is the activity that members of a certain operatic fraternity (The Callassa Operetta Company) indulge during nightly gatherings. They are planchetters, who practice the art of divining, or communicating with 'spirits'. In the case of Inspector Alfred Butler-Ellis, of Scotland Yard, whom is the investigator of extraordinary crimes, the consequences of so doing prove to be absolutely catastrophic...

Read Father's Icon. Go beyond the supernatural. NOW!

An excerpt from the novel, Father's Icon:

The scene is The Artemis Theatre. London. 1882. Gertrude and Albert Smith, the theatre's 'do everything' are sitting on the stage and taking welcome refreshment. Gertrude has spent the morning on the task of repairing the dioramas, which have been mysteriously ripped apart and which are essential for the evening's performance. Albert saw the culprit, but is loathe to tell her who it was. Nor will he have anything to do with the diorama's repair:

"Gertie," came Albert's brusquely delivered voice. "You shouldn't be out when it gets dark."
The force of his voice took her aback. There was also the lingering fear evident in his eyes.
"What are you talking about, Albert? You know that I never go out during the evenings and anyway, it is not dark now, is it?
"It will be," he maintained. "Soon."

***

"Please Albert, I want to know if something has happened?"
He was silent. Judging by the severity of his expression, it seemed very likely that it had.
Laughter erupted among the few musicians who were rearranging their belongings. Soon the theatre would be left in a silent and pregnant mood because any moment, the preparations were due to begin for the evening's performance...

***

"You should be going home now, Gertie.....Before it becomes dark."
"What do you mean, 'before dark,' for heaven's sake?"
With his eyes appearing to bulge from their sockets, he looked toward the dioramas and growled...

***

Getting Albert to tell would require gentle diplomacy.
"Albert...Albert. You know we are friends and that I care about you. Did you see someone in the theatre? The ones who damaged the dioramas? Did they attack you?...Say nasty things?"
Suddenly he grasped one of her hands...

***

"No one else knows about this, Gertie," he said and in what was almost an inaudible murmer.
"Oh, what is it, Albert?"
"But...But...I've known you all of your life and your father was a friend...You don't work here all of the time..."
"Gertie began filling his mug with tea. He waited until it had been placed in front of him before continuing.
"It was late last night...I...I...heard a noise. I was polishing the gilted seats in the special guest box...

***

"I saw who it was...damaging the dioramas...I wish I hadn't. Let me tell you, Gertie.
More than anything and on my mother's grave, I really wish I hadn't...The damned brute...He was flying...Cloak, stove piper and all. He looked at me...Flying...Flying...Looking...Looking..."

***

Read Father's Icon. Go beyond the supernatural. NOW!

The cost to read this most splendid production is a mere $10. (ten dollars US).
485 packed pages on one pdf. one ebook. ISBN 978-1-906503-21-5

Thank you Walter Lambert, for writing this programme. Walter is a resident of North Yorkshire, England. His interests are: Victorian theatre, the rural countryside and the metaphysical/occult. He also plays golf with Stephen Lewis.

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